The Federal Communications Commission is auctioning a 700MHz broadband wireless spectrum later on this year. Google is offering $4.6 billion bid to make it an open wireless platform. Does Google wants to launch the Google phone? I would say: Google, consumer hardware, never have, never will.
Anyway, it seems all too obvious what Google would do with wireless broadband open platform, so I'll focus more on stipulating on "will Google win?" The 'auction 31' has already been rescheduled once about three years ago, meaning that it could be rescheduled again. That's where Google is playing a dangerous game.
Opposed to Google's initiative is the DTV High Tech Coalition, a group of leading companies and industry associations in the U.S. information technology and telecommunications sectors. "The members of the Coalition believe that the DTV transition is a "win-win" scenario for consumers and the nation's economy!"
The coalition recently addressed a letter to the members of Congress to let them know how enthusiastic they were to soon work together. The coalition is composed of different entities, including Alcatel, Cisco System, Intel, Microsoft, T-Mobile and Verizon, to name a few.
Google is stepping in the middle of this group of corporate bullies, with its mind set up on changing what everybody else wants. "Open up the valves" says CEO Schmidt. Let the spectrum free and let the consumers chose for who they want to operate their communications.
Just as they are doing for health, Google is trying to develop a platform where service providers would be third-parties, and Google would be the middle-man. This scheme forecasts great advertising profits for Google, and a real consumers' freedom.
So the pressure is enormous on this guy, Kevin Martin, chairman of the FCC. On one side he's got the corporate heavy-weights who could have his family killed if he takes the wrong decision, on there's Google with its promise of a new dawn for the American consumers.
The battle doesn't start in favor of Google, as Kevin Martin has come out squarely against two of Google’s four proposed conditions. But Google stands a chance since Kevin Martin, despite he's an appointee of the Bush administration, doesn't seem to be a corporate sellout.
The guy actually worked his whole life for law institutions, public and private, before joining the Bush team as a Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. There's a chance that he doesn't share the same sort of interests politicians usually share with corporate objectives.
However, it'll be good to follow-up on this, because if ever Google gets his way, a lot of things are going to be changing around here.
